Somebody/Whirinaki Mai

In this video shot for the 2022 season of musical documentary series Waiata Anthems, R&B singer Mikey Dam brings soulful focus to the te reo Māori version of his song 'Somebody'. The Taranaki born, Palmerston North raised vocalist worked with musician and Mātanga Reo (language consultant) Tawaroa Kawana (Rangitāne, Muaūpoko, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Wairiki). They took a song with a deeply personal back story, and expanded on its message of emotional support within a te ao Māori context. They called it 'Whirinaki Mai'. 

I feel so strongly on what can be achieved through te reo Māori in commercial music — that whole concept of taking a story written in English and being able to put that into Māori. It's like a fusion of styles and languages. We can make something really interesting or beautiful . . . and have a lot of emotional depth . . .

– Music producer Rory Noble, in Waiata Anthems, series two, episode two

Key Cast & Crew

Julia Parnell

Director, Producer

Kayne Ngātokowhā Peters

Producer

Evan Howell

Cinematographer

Jeremy Star

Editor

Tawaroa Kawana

Mātanga Reo (Language Consultant)